How often should you check your breasts? Doctors explain what’s normal

Some people feel unsure about how often they should check their breasts, while others worry about if they are doing it “wrong”. There are many questions regarding this topic. Fortunately, we are here to help you clarify them and doctors now are focused on breast awareness rather than strict self-examination routines. This article explains what breast awareness means, what changes are normal, and when to see a doctor.

What does “breast awareness” actually mean?

Breast awareness is about knowing what is normal for your own body, it does not require a formal technique or fixed schedule. Knowing your own body is very important and fundamental, in order to know what is normal and what is not. The goal is to notice changes early rather than to search for problems.

How often should you check your breasts?

There is no single “correct” frequency recommended by doctors of how often you should check your breasts. Regular familiarity through everyday activities such as washing or dressing is often enough. Flexibility matters more than rigid monthly checks. Nonetheless, as Doctify-rated Breast Specialist Professor Zoe Winters notes: “women should self-examine their breasts at least once every 3 months in midcycle”.

What is normal when it comes to breasts

It is normal to have differences in size, shape, and texture between breasts. Also, it is natural that breasts change with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause.

As Doctify-rated Breast Specialist Professor Zoe Winters explains: Breast ductal tissues are sensitive to changes in levels of female sex hormone, resulting in more prominent, and tender feeling tissues (menses, contraceptives, pregnancy, and Hormone Replacement therapy or HRT).

Normal breast tissues comprise a “firmer” component that makes up denser feeling or normal breast ductal tissues (we are interested in this component), with intervening “softer” or fatty tissues. Some common changes, such as tenderness, lumpiness, or nipple sensitivity can be benign, but if recurrent it should still be discussed with your GP. 

Changes you need to look out for

Some of the changes you should look out for at the time of performing the self-check exam are:

• New or persistent lumps or thickening that feels different from surrounding tissue.
• Changes in skin texture, dimpling, redness, or persistent rash.
• Nipple changes such as inversion, discharge, or bleeding.
• Ongoing pain in one area that does not settle.

How hormones and life stages affect breast tissue

Often, periods, contraception, and hormone replacement therapy influence breast feel. For example, it is completely normal that during pregnancy and breastfeeding, they result in more prominent, and tender feeling tissues. On the other hand, post-menopausal changes should be checked even if breasts are painless, in order to screen for any silent or asymptomatic condition triggered by the reduction of women’s hormones after menopause.

Breast screening vs breast checks

There is a big difference between breast awareness checks and breast screening programmes. Breast awareness checks refer to the self-check exams, meanwhile breast screening programmes are annual image checks, also known as mammograms, performed by experienced doctors in the field. 

The greatest advances in breast cancer treatments are earlier detection with optimal screening against a background of clients acquiring more knowledge through media and trusted information sites.

Professor Zoe Winters, Doctify-rated Senior Consultant Breast Cancer Oncoplastic Surgeon and Breast Specialist

Women should consider commencing breast screening mammograms from 40 years of age. The frequency of this will depend on individual risk factors that are assessed using validated risk adapted algorithms, that will be discussed by your breast specialist or a geneticist.

Mammograms should continue indefinitely, as increasing age is a strong independent risk factor for breast cancer. Nevertheless, screening does not replace paying attention to changes in your self-check exam, since a change can appear between appointments and early detection and help us have good management.

When should you see a GP?

If you experience any of the following, please consult with a GP:

• If a change is new, persistent, or feels unusual for you.
• Any persistent indentation of the breast skin on lifting one’s arm that is reproducible.
• More than 90% of breast pain is normal, but should still be discussed with your GP, prior to a referral. 
• Most nipple discharge is normal, however if this is persistent and /or bloody; you are advised to seek a specialist’s opinion.

Final reassurance/conclusion

Most breast changes are benign and related to hormones or normal tissue variation. Knowing your body and acting on changes early supports better outcomes. Nevertheless, not all changes in the breasts can mean it is cancer. If something does not feel right, speaking to a doctor is always the right next step. Doctify offers experienced GPs that can be great help to clarify if you’re having any doubt.

Feel free to consult a GP through Doctify for personalised advice whenever you want, we will be happy to help you! Find the best GPs in the United Kingdom or search for the best specialists globally:

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Medically Reviewed
Last reviewed on 13/01/2025